Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
  • A01C1/06—Coating or dressing seed
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G23/00—Forestry
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
  • A01G24/30—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing synthetic organic compounds
  • A01G24/35—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing synthetic organic compounds containing water-absorbing polymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
  • C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
  • C05G5/00—Fertilisers characterised by their form
  • C05G5/10—Solid or semi-solid fertilisers, e.g. powders
  • C05G5/14—Tablets, spikes, rods, blocks or balls

Definitions

• This invention relates to the planting of seeds and particularly provides both methods and means for facilitating same.
• An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages and provide improved methods for planting seed.
• a further object of the invention is to provide means for delivering with the seed to be planted nutrients remaining in an available assimilable form over a prolonged period of time. It is a still further object of the invention to provide means of delivering with the seed during planting means for enhancin the environment in the locus of the seed after planting which means develops a protective zone around the seed and roots system of the subsequent seedling which tends toward optimum conditions for the particular plant concerned.
• a seed growth enhancement unit preferably in the form of a capsule or tablet, weighing at least one-half gram, for slowly feeding germinating seeds over a period of one year.
• the unit comprises an intimate mixtur of dry solid particles including seed condition and growth enhancement agents of variable water solubility but which are at least capable of being broken down into water-solubl substances by the continued action of soil bacteria; a combination of various water-retentive polymers that are slowly biodegradable over a period of up to five years by soil bacteria, and a seed selected from forestry or agriculturalor horticulture etc., said combination being selected so as to provide that said unit on contact with rainfall or moisture, starts to slowly hydrate and form a controlled release gel, enveloping the seed.
• the unit may be a gelatin capsule filled with the dry mixture of particulate material and seed.
• Gelatin is obtained by hydrolysis of collagen by boiling skin, ligaments, tendons etc. usually from bovine or porcine carcasses. Acid hydrolysis yields Type;A gelatin and alkal hydrolysis yields Type B gelatin and either can be used for the purposes of the invention.
• Gelatin is strongly hydrophilic absorbing up to ten times its weight of water. Consequently both "hard”, and “soft” capsules are sensitive to environmental moisture and water content of the product confined within the capsule which tends to cause capsule disintegration. This means that the dry contents of the capsule are readily released upon hydration of the capsule by rainfall or other irrigation.
• the unit is formed as a tablet, in which case a tableting lubricant which does not interfere with water penetration and disintegration of the tablet, e.g. talc an magnesium stearate in the amount of 3% to 6% by weight of the tablet is utilised.
• a tableting lubricant which does not interfere with water penetration and disintegration of the tablet, e.g. talc an magnesium stearate in the amount of 3% to 6% by weight of the tablet is utilised.
• the invention provides a seed growth enhancement unit for nurturing a germinating seed over a period of at least about a year made up of essentially dry components comprising at least one water-insoluble hydratable polymer constituting from 20.5 to 85% dry weight of the mixture with the balance being made up of water-soluble and water- insoluble materials and a seed.
• the insoluble water-retentive polymer(s) preferably constitute from 30 - 60% of the dry composition, more preferably about 40% of the dry mixture.
• the plantable unit is based on a seed growth media made from a mixture of cross-linked polyacrylamides and hydroxypropylmethyl-celluloses that can be readily added into the tablet matrix by dry mixing before compression.
• the delivery form of the unit is variable and may be a gelatin capsule, paper cartridge, a compressed pellet, tablet or prill. It may be desirable in some instances to provide the components in discrete parts for example if it is considered that, despite the dry formulation, there is a remote possibility that under prolonged storage there could be a degradation of the complete formulation arising from an unfavourable interaction between certain components.
• a further possibility is to have essential polymers, fertilisers, chemical nutrients, etc. in one part which would be storage stable for lengthy periods and provide a further part for use in conjunction with the first but freshly inoculated with essential microorganisms.
• the plantable unit could be supplied in a kit of parts to be sown together.
• the unit could be made of shaped components with engaging portions for convenience and accuracy in sowing.
• a possible form would be to provide one part in an annular shape with a further part of a circular shape and of a size enabling it to be simply pressed into the central aperture of the annular par thus completing the unit for sowing.
• one part could be generally cup-shaped, the seed could be included within the cup aperture and a third part of different composition could provide a plug to close the cup.
• the possibilities for variation in delivery shape and form are numerous and the person skilled in the art will be able to select the most convenient delivery form taking into account such factors as intended manner of sowing i.e. mechanically or manually, ingredient interactions and compatibilities, size of seed, intended storage period prior to sowing etc.
• references hereinafter, unless otherwise stated will be to tablet or pellet forms of the plantable unit including the seed.
• the invention provides a tableted seed growth media that contains a specific agricultural or forestry application seed, fertilizers, micro-nutrients and a water-retentive polymer complex.
• a gel composition is obtained.
• This mixture forms a gel of water, containing the water soluble fertilizers, held in a homogeneous network of swollen, hydrophilic, cross-linked polyacrylamide/hydroxypropyl- ethylcellulose, complexes.
• the water is slowly released in a controlled fashion, leaving a polyacrylamide mass that can be rehydrated completely in less than an hour.
• the rate of water released during dry periods is slow enough to eliminate the risk of seed rot.
• a large quantity of the water is evaporated before the seed can absorb excessive amounts.
• the seed is provided with a controlled zone around it which changes slowly despite whatever radical environmental conditions in the surrounding soil may occur.
• the leach resistant properties of the tablet combined with the direct compression of the dry mixture produce advantages in both production and controlled release of the planted tablet seed. It is not necessarily an objective to have all possible compositions exhibit a large degree of swelling, since under some circumstances the swelling could inhibit seed development, e.g. where the plantable unit is sown into a shaped container for nursery or greenhouse use (such as the popular cellular polystyrene seed trays) .
• a particular advantage of the plantable unit of the invention is that it is based on a seed growth media including a polymer complex that will retain water, dissolve the encapsulated nutrients and fertilizers and sustain controlled release over time.
• the tableted composition of the invention incorporates various agricultural seeds, fertilizers, micronutrients and water-retentive polymers in a non- leaching, controlled-release package.
• the above mentioned seed, fertilizers and water- retentive polymers when dry mixed with the proper binders, lubricants, disintegrants and compressed into a tablet form, can be either applied directly into the ground using various planting machinery or spread by various aerial application methods. This allows the seeding and fertilization of areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
• the invention provides methods of seeding which are not only applicable for agricultural, horticultural and forestry purposes but also is applicable to the serious problem of soil erosion enabling rapid sowing of plants for the purposes of soil retention, e.g. grasses for regions such as Ethiopia.
• the seed-containing units of this invention may be distributed over deforested areas quickly to restore the lost timber or provide rapidly growing ground covering vegetation as a temporary measure to prevent loss of top soil.
• the soil tablet upon water addition, is formed into a body of elastomeric cross-linked polymer that binds a certain quantity of water, resulting in a cohesive gelled mass.
• the amount of bound water can range from 300-400% by weight of the polyacrylamide copolymer/hydroxypropyl- ethylcellulose complex.
• the polymer gel can optionally contain plant growth additives such as agricultural modified minerals, buffers and fertilizers. These will released in a controlled release fashion with minimum chemical "dumping" and assimilated as required by the seed. Fertilizers operable herein can be water insoluble, producing a longer release curve, or soluble such as ammonium and diammonium phosphate, KN0 3 , K2S, P2O5 and potash.
• the preferred polymer to form the tablet is a synthetic organic material such as cross-linked polyacrylamide or hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose.
• polymers can also be used alone or mixed and selection may be made from crosslinkable polymers capable of forming a rehydratable water retentive matrix such as poly(ethylene oxide) , poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) , sulphonated polyethylene, hydrolysed starch/methacrylo-nitrile graft copolymer, hydrolysed polyacrylamide, poly(acrylic acid salts) , starch/methacrylic acid salt copolymers, poly(vinyl alcohol) , hydrolysed vinyl ester/unsaturated carboxylic aci ester copolymers or copolymers thereof with ethylene, and hydrolysed hydroxyalkyl acrylate/acrylamide copolymers.
• crosslinkable polymers capable of forming a rehydratable water retentive matrix
• crosslinkable polymers capable of forming a rehydratable water retentive matrix
• crosslinkable polymers capable of forming a rehydratable water retentive matrix
• these polymers Upon reaction with water, these polymers provide a gel body that extends around the root zone where it is placed. Such a gel structure securely holds the seed nutrients and fertilizers, while providing a reservoir of water to feed the growing seed, and eliminating the majority of leaching normally present.
• water- insoluble polymers does not exclude the possibility of including certain water-soluble polymers as listed, and for the purposes to be described, hereinbelow.
• the seed contained in the tablet can become encapsulated in the said gel matrix upon moisture or rainfall contact with the polymeric media originally presen as dry components of the tablet which thereafter provide an appropriate encapsulation matrix, hereafter termed "gel".
• a gel should allow embryo respiration by permitting diffusion of gases.
• the gel should also be strong enough to resist external abrasion an adverse forces, yet be pliable enough to allow the growth o the embryo and its germination at the appropriate time.
• the gel selected must be able to retain and hold a considerable amount of "free water” which is able to participate in the physiological process of germination. Any gel to be used in the dry tablet matrix would usually include the following characteristics upon hydration with moisture:
• suitable gels include, but are not limited to those listed in the Table I hereinbelow.
• Nitrogen containing nutrients such as that of the formula B below may be included in the make-up of the tablet:
• additives which have been found to be useful by adding to the tablet matrix along wit the seeds, include pesticides including insecticides and acaricides, herbicides, fungicides any and all being selected with the objective of enhancing the seed germination environment, pesticide counteracting agents including inhibitors- and antidotes, water-soluble and insoluble fertilizers, vitamins, energy sources, simple sugars, carbohydrates, starches, modified starches, cellulose ethers, amino acids, adenosine triphosphate, micronutrients, magnesium, calcium and trace elements, enzymes, growth promoters, growth regulators, phytohormones, pheromones, soil and water conditioners, dispersants, denitrification inhibitors, wetting agents, pH controllers, metal chelating agents, safeners, and dry-cultured micro ⁇ organisms including bacteria and fungi.
• pesticides including insecticides and acaricides, herbicides, fungicides any and all being selected with the objective of enhancing the seed germination environment
• Pesticides may be selected from the group consisting o copper sulphate, thiram, captan, benomyl, metalaxyl, carbofuran, acephate, malathion, pronamide and ethyl dipropyl thiocarbamate.
• Fertilizers when present may be included at from 2-40% of dry tablet weight, herbicides at say, up to a maximum of 0.50%, trace elements and micronutrients at up to 0.75%, hormone concentrations at up to 0.05%.
• a combination of water-soluble and water- insoluble fertilizers is preferred; specifically diammonium phosphate, potash, triple phosphate and potassium sulphide.
• Fertilizers for example, can be added at a concentration of 0.01 to 1.0 gram per 1.5 gram seed tablet.
• Microorganisms would be added in an amount considered sufficient to be beneficial and ideally would be at spore counts intended to achieve a maximum symbiotic population.
• the selected additives are added into the dry powder matrix, and therefore must be in a powder or crystal form t be used. Liquid additives cannot be used as such in this invention. The only possible exception to this is where th proposed liquid additive is first adsorbed on to an inert particulate dry porous material such as fuller's earth or vermiculite.
• Specific additives can be added to the tablet mixture at concentrations specific for the application rate of the particular additive.
• Pesticides for example, can b added to the polymer dry mix in concentrations up to 99.4% of the total tablet seed additive content. More usually, pesticide concentrations will be from 0.002 to 0.30 grams active ingredient per gram.
• Microorganisms for example, can be added at a concentration of l x 10 12 microorganisms per gram.
• the tablet or capsule could contain non-toxic chemicals that would deter animals or birds from ingesting the gel containing the seed.
• the invention provides a method of increasing seed survivability, which is the main object of the present invention, yet involves a non-complex application procedure whereby a leach-resistant tablet that slowly releases water, fertilizers and micronutrients in a controlled fashion can be applied with seeding machinery or by aerial dispersal.
• the invention provides a tablet which is totally biodegradable, non-phytotoxic and contains ingredients that promote seed growth.
• the invention utilises polysaccharides or derivatives thereof such as the following (Compound A) at from 20.5 to 85% by dry weight
• R represents hydrogen or alkyl groups, especially of long chain fatty acids to provide hydrophobic groups, which when dry mixed with the proper seed, fertilizers, micronutrients, binders, lubricants and compressed into a tablet form, can be directly or aerially dispersed; resulting in enhanced seed survivability.
• a water-retentive, fertilizer containing, seed growth enhancement tablet of this tablet is made from the following components (excluding selected seed) :
• This composition is thoroughly mixed dry and then pelleted dry into tablets, which may be from 1 / 2 gram to 5.0 grams in size.
• the talc and magnesium stearate act as tablet lubricants during manufacture, ensuring release from the tableting cavity without acting to water proof the tablet.
• the above formula is a scientifically balanced low- toxicity seed supplement with long-lasting water-retentive characteristics, which meet the problems of drought, 15
• a tablet oriented specifically for greenhouse seed growth that incorporates a much higher concentration of compound A. Since the majority of nursery stock is grown i expanded, cellular polystyrene shaped containers, the gelling characteristics of the cross-linked polyacrylamide copolymer would actually damage seed stock by blocking gas exchange. The compound A tablet would fom a gel only covering the surface of the tablet itself. There will be n swelling or increase in gel mass by this tablet.
• Composition excluding seed
• This composition is also thoroughly mixed dry and the pelleted dry into tablets, which are from 1 / 2 to 5.0 grams in size.
• This formula is a low-toxicity plant tablet with long-lasting water-retentive characteristics that meets th problems of seed nutrient stress.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Ecology (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)
• Fertilizers (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Water Treatment By Sorption (AREA)
• Treatment Of Water By Oxidation Or Reduction (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=4143317

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (24)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (9)

• 1989
  • 1989-10-13 CA CA002000620A patent/CA2000620C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1990
  • 1990-10-04 EP EP90914664A patent/EP0495809A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1990-10-04 AU AU65014/90A patent/AU647753B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1990-10-04 WO PCT/CA1990/000337 patent/WO1991005459A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1992
  • 1992-03-30 GB GB9206931A patent/GB2255269B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-04-08 FI FI921566A patent/FI921566A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (9)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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